Bill > HB0215

This bill mandates a comprehensive shift from electronic voting systems to a manual hand-counting system for elections in Wyoming. The legislation requires all elections to use paper ballots that must be hand-counted by teams of election judges from different political parties, with specific procedures designed to ensure accuracy and transparency. Each counting team will consist of two judges who will read and verify votes, record them on separate tally sheets, and then transfer results to a summary tally sheet. The bill eliminates electronic voting machines, electronic pollbooks, and any internet-connected voting equipment, replacing them with accessible voting machines that can only assist voters in marking paper ballots. It also introduces new requirements for election observers, who must take an oath not to disclose vote counts before polls close, and establishes stricter regulations around ballot handling, including detailed chain of custody procedures. The bill provides significant penalties for interfering with ballot boxes or falsifying election documents, and mandates that county and state canvassing boards cannot certify elections if any irregularities exist. These changes are designed to increase election integrity and transparency, with the new system set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Government Affairs

https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0215